MAY 2015 VOLUME 18 - NUMBER 5

FREE Double gold for Team Sask at NAHC

Members of the boys team celebrate their championship at the 2015 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships held in Halifax. (Photo by Jeff Watson Athletes Image Sports Photography)

JA ACHIEVERS The Junior Achievement program in the northern community of La Loche is being hailed as a success. - Page 7

GETTING TO KNOW JACK Jack Saddleback is an interest - ng guy and the new president of the students union at the U of S. Page 8

BOUND FOR EL SALVADOR Tiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin isn’t sure what her upcoming trip will bring but she expects it to be a life-changer. - Page 8

NORTHERN ROLE MODEL Simon Crookedneck is one Sask teams take gold for two consecutive years impressive young man. So, it’s only logical that he’s become a poster boy! - Page 13 By Fraser Needham The male team edged out Team Alberta 4-3 in For Eagle Feather News overtime for the gold on Saturday. SCAFFOLDING MENTOR Team Saskatchewan has once again struck double The teams were scoreless after one period of play gold at the 2015 National Aboriginal Hockey Champi - Joel Garr is a man who knows before Saskatchewan’s Reed Gunville broke the ice onships held this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia. his way around a construction with a power play goal in the second. Alberta responded Both the male and female teams defeated provin - site and now he’s passing on with a power play goal of its own before the period was cial rivals in medal round games on May 2. his knowledge. - Page 24 out. The tournament features elite level Bantam and The teams traded off a total of four goals in the Welcome to our Midget players from across Canada. second and third periods with Drake Teer tallying for Saskatchewan also won gold in both the male and Saskatchewan on a power play and Lantz Hebert adding Sports, Youth & Mining Edition female divisions in last year’s NAHC tournament in another. Coming In June - National Aboriginal Day Issue Kahnawake, Quebec. • Continued on Page 2 CPMA #40027204 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 2 Narrow margins, but Sask teams victorious at national championship

• Continued from Page One Alberta had two even strength goals before Saskatchewan won the game in overtime on a marker by Connor Navrot at 15:49. The female team won gold by de - feating Team Ontario 3-2 on Saturday. Saskatchewan had the lone goal in the first period with Hannah Koroll scor - ing. They added another two markers in the second period with Taylor Gravelle scoring and Kiana Durocher tallying on a power play. Ontario replied with a goal of its own before the period was out and added another in the third but it wasn’t enough. Alberta and B.C. took silver and bronze respectively in the male side of the tournament. On the female side, On - tario won the silver medal with Manitoba taking bronze. Both the male and female teams lost to Team Manitoba in the round robin but came back to beat the same opponent in the semi-finals of the playoffs. Saskatchewan female team head coach Lynn Regnier says it was just a Team Saskatchewan’s female team came back from a round robin loss to Manitoba to reclaim the championship. matter of his team being more focused in the playoffs. “We just got a lot more pucks on a total of ten points over three games. the playoff round with seven points each by the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust net, we were first on pucks and we got a He was followed by teammate over three games. Fund, Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and lot more shots on net,” he says. Drake Teer who had three goals and five Durocher had three goals and four Dakota Dunes Community Development Saskatchewan’s Reed Gunville led assists for eight points. assists and Ross five goals and two as - Corporation. all male skaters in points in the playoff Kiana Durocher and Delaney Ross sists. The NAHC tournament has been in round with four goals and six assists for of Saskatchewan led all female skaters in Team Saskatchewan was sponsored existence since 2002. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 3 Cell phone repair idea takes inaugural Shopindig challenge

By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News SASKATOON – Justin Scott just received a $4.000 kick-start for his business, Scott Repair, by winning the inaugural Shopindig Start up Challenge. Scott beat out another dozen contestants and six finalists to earn some money for the cell phone repair business he has been dreaming of creat - ing, money that will allow the entrepreneur to leverage more funding. “Winning means I’ve taken the first step to actualizing my dream and now people are aware of my determination and are ready to help me succeed,” said Scott after the win. “SIEF, Futurpreneaur, all these different programs know who I am now and want me to apply. It helps me get my foot in the door of places I need to be so I can get more support and mentorship.” The Shopindig Start Up Challenge is the brainchild of entrepreneur Heather Abbey. She participated in many business plan competitions showcasing her website that markets for Aboriginal artisans around the ShopIndig founder Heather Abbey with winners Justin Scott, Cate Morris, Mary-Lou world and she knew the benefit of business plan competitions and the Mintram and Candace Linklater. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) resources they provide entrepreneurs. “Just giving these entrepreneurs that chance to learn about business, to find a mentor and to win some cash to finance your business is so important,” said Abbey. “We had great supporters and sponsors for this event and it went very well and several already promised to sponsor next year so we are thrilled. The quality of the pitches was outstanding and that’s what we want to see more of.” The dozen entrepreneurs that submitted videos received a two day business boot camp where they had access to business mentors and also worked on the five minute pitch. The six finalists, Justin Scott of Scotts Repair, Cate Morris with Scout Financial, Candace Linklater and Mary-Lou Mintram with Littebow-tihk, Terry Tipewan of Belicious Bannock, Brian Dreaver of Iron Buffalo Clothing and Jean McKenzie of Sewing Gene got to pitch their businesses to a panel of judges at a gala banquet at the Dakota Dunes Casino. Kendal Netmaker from Neechie Gear, Lisa Abbott from Abbott Law, Rhonda Speiss from PotashCorp, John Lagimodiere from Eagle Feather News, and Rick Stefanowski from SIEF were the judges.

Justin Scott and his idea for a cell phone repair company took the top spot at the ShopIndig Challenge. Scott has several years experience in the industry and wants to turn that knowledge into his future business. (Photo by John Lagimodiere) Cate Morris of Scout Financial earned second with her financial literacy business and Candace Linklater and Mary-Lou Mintram, with their fashion line Littebow- tihk, came third. Justin Scott is now taking his four years experience working for a national cell phone company and he is turning that knowledge into something that will truly be his. The Shopindig Challenge certainly opened his eyes to the support out there for entrepreneurs. “This start up challenge has taught me you need to break into whatever program, system or challenges are available to get yourself noticed. If you do your due dili - gence and have the experience, these programs and individuals representing these programs will help you, first step is getting noticed by them,” said Scott. “The best entrepreneurs and business leaders find the best teammates and that starts by sharing your vision with the community.” 4 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 Budding scientists among our athletes, teachers

Engaging and supporting First around the territory. aim for and keeps them focussed. gentlemen on the right. Nation and Metis youth in Saskatchewan In mid-April that arena was packed But sports isn’t for everyone so that It just takes time and patience and has never been more important. for the Western is why I love going commitment to the cause. As we speak, almost half of the Canadian Native to events like the To strengthen their communities and Aboriginal population in our province is Championships PotashCorp Mini opportunities for youth, several northern under the age of 20 and this corps of hosted by Claude Science Fair with leaders, both political and business, young people face some of the biggest Petit. And in early Saskatoon Tribal joined with Cameco folks and have challenges out there …. highest poverty May, Shelley Council kinder - headed to Ottawa to meet with federal indicators, suicide rate, unemployment, Lavallee helped garten to Grade 5 officials and Ministers to tell them about incarceration and the foster care system host the Oskana students. the progress their communities have are all impacting our kids in the worse Cup in Regina. At this event made by working together. way. All events were kids are engaged They will also learn how they can But there is plenty of reason to be very successful and showed how much and put their inquisitive minds to learning leverage training money and opportuni - hopeful looking into the future because talent we have out there. about and explaining basic scientific prin - ties for their youth. some awesome people are doing amazing The proof of the value in our invest - ciples. I’m in Ottawa with the Saskatchewan things to pave the way into the future. ment in our kids showed when both the In our community we have many contingent and will be writing about the Just look at this past month and think boys and girls teams won gold at the people in careers like teacher, police meetings in the coming days. of hockey. National Aboriginal Hockey Champi - officer and social worker, but not a lot in This trip is happening as we print this Kevin Roberts of Lac la Ronge – onships … again! geology and engineering and other paper so you will have to go to our who, incidentally is a former member of Those smiling faces on this month’s science based careers. website to read about it. the Eagle Feather News team from a few cover make us all proud. And thanks, of Science and math projects are invest - Yes we do have challenges, but every years ago – coordinated the FSIN Youth course, to photographer Jeff Watson of ments we must continue to make. The single day there are champions and Hockey Championships that saw Jemini Athletes Image Sports Photography in economy in Saskatchewan is tied into our leaders out there working to make the Arena in Saskatoon busting with kids and Ontario for that great image. natural resources and careers are plentiful world a better place for our youth. families enjoying the sport and building We have lots to be proud of and right in the mining industry. And if the youth aspire to be the next character. now, young people are practicing their Those two subjects are pivotal foun - hockey star like Michael Ferland or a top Roberts’ work back in La Ronge track and field for the First Nation dations for these careers and there is no notch engineer like Matthew Dunn – who is a crucial part of a bustling recre - Summer Games coming soon at reason why these three young volcano just happens to be a world-class athlete, ation department that just bought a Ochapowace First Nation. builders (pictured on the left) can’t as well as a brilliant scholar – that is a bus to help transport kids to sports Events like this give kids things to become engineers like the three good thing.

Maybe one day Ethan, Ruby and Maya will become scientists or engineers. Engineers Duncan Cree, John Desjarlais and Matthew Dunn. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 5 Money sense an important concept for young spenders

Once, on a trip to the local band store, I had a whole your mom.) 75¢ burning a hole in my pocket. Don’t put all your money in one place, especially if This was enough money to buy a bag of chips or a that place is your mouth. Somehow I got to the age of 25 chocolate bar, but not both. And I don’t know about you, before I learned you weren’t supposed to put money in your but that is an impossible decision for a chubby six-year- mouth. old. It had always been a holding area for coins until a friend Thus, I was seated outside in the gravel trying to pointed out that on any given day at least 10 people touched make up my mind. a single loonie before it found its way into my mouth and In the meantime, I invented a game where I buried bank or even how many gold teeth you have. Even if you at least one of those people was a habitual ball-scratcher. my coins, looked away for a few seconds and then think it’ll be safe to whisper your net worth after midnight “It’s a wonder you don’t have ten different kinds of unburied them. Each time, there was a thrill in uncover - during a thunderstorm – it isn’t. cholera,” she added. ing my three shiny quarters. No matter how quietly you proclaim your income, Ironically, I have always been suspiciously healthy. Until, I buried them too far and lost them to the when you wake up, there’ll be a relative standing on your I know you young people must think I’m some sort of gravel gods. doorstep with an “aw-shucks” story, ready to parlay your old fuddy-duddy taking all the fun out of getting to throw This was my first lesson in money management – sympathy into a long term, no-chance-of-ever-getting-it- money around for the first time. don’t play with your money, unless you’re a pirate. back loan. I know what it feels like to be young and free – my first This month’s column is about money and youth – Until your saving goals are met, say no to unnecessary month on my own, I only ate grapes. This was an act of but not in a lurid way. purchases. And, as to determining what is an unnecessary rebellion against my mom who used to always say, “grapes What I mean is that if you are young, you still have purchase, just ask yourself, could I find some way to steal are too expensive, just dip your raisins in water.” time to learn how to manage your money wisely and then this? So when I had control over the grocery budget I bought enjoy it in your twilight years. (If you’re old, it’s already Another tip: teach yourself how to invest your money. as many grapes as I wanted. So what if my power got cut too late – so just keep playing the lottery, cheating at cards This is called making your money work for you or “big off? I proudly ate my grapes in the dark. and cashing your cheques at Payday Loans, Mom.) pimpin’.” To become a good investor, study the markets It’s important to remember that money is what people When you’re young, it feels like the money train will and don’t jump in unless you feel comfortable with the level pay you in exchange for your time. And you don’t get an never end but it’s important to have a cushion to fall back of risk. unlimited supply of that. on if things take a sudden turn for the worse. However, sometimes you have to go with your gut. It’s like that movie “In Time” (great movie except that Like if your roommate moves out because your Like normally I would say, “no bingo-related loans.” But it starred Justin Timberlake) where people get paid in time chinchilla bit him or if your chinchilla has an unplanned what if Mom is on a hot streak? Well, then maybe you have credits. Once your time credits run out, you die and then pregnancy or if your chinchilla requires sex-change to go with it. Justin Timberlake holds you in his spindly arms and makes surgery because he feels like he’s been living a lie. Be clear with her though – you expect a 15 per cent squawking noises in an attempt to cry. Here’s my first tip – never tell anyone how much return and she must pay up immediately if she wins. (That’s It’s pretty unpleasant and to avoid that – respect your money you make. Or how much money you have in the the hard part of investing – learning how to shake down dollar bills, y’all. 6 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 Thoughts on hockey ....

I remember when I was a little Another development is body boy. Yes I was a little boy once. protection equipment that seems to I watched the Stanley Cup have been designed for tank warfare. playoffs on television. It was my first I am puzzled not only by the hard experience watching this new elbow pads that make great weapons invention. It was the 1955-56 hockey but especially by the helmets that season and I was watching TV in the seem designed to ensure concussions gym at the Oblate residential school rather than prevent them. where I was trying to avoid studies Recent scientific studies have and learn to play hockey. shown what was plain to ordinary Montreal Canadiens won. They folks like my good friend: the helmets beat the Maple Leafs which only the are next to useless because they have late Father Guy Lavallee cheered for. no absorption quality but simply Everyone else was a Montreal fan transfer the blow to the head. including yours Why not use truly. softer helmets If you have that absorb not yet read the shock? Try this children’s book test: put on a ‘The Hockey helmet and bang Sweater” by Roch yourself on the Carriere you must head. When you get it now and wake up you will read it. You will immediately get the be convinced something is amiss. flavour of what it was then to be a A round of applause for young Montreal hockey fan. Sequoia Swan, Anishinabe Pee Wee That season was the start of the player who made the Western Selects incredible five-year domination of the roster that recently played in an inter - Stanley Cup champion Canadiens. national tournament in Europe. The roster was an array of unforget - Sequoia is the grandson of friends table characters and hockey legends Jenn and Darcy Wood and a member including ‘Rocket’ Richard, his little of Cape Croker First Nation, all of brother Henri, Jean Beliveau, Bernie whom live in Winnipeg where Geoffrion, Doug Harvey, Dickie Sequoia is the star player for the local Moore, and others. elite Rebels team. The hockey barons changed the Proud parents are Jenn and penalty rule to allow the penalized Darcy’s daughter Shylo and Clint player back on the ice after a goal is Swan of Peguis First Nation. scored to stop the Montreal onslaught The Selects won all five first with the man advantage. round games but were stymied by a That was a long time ago and I hot Finnish goaltender in the quarter- rarely watch ‘ice hockey’ any more. finals. I missed many seasons while I A polite ‘congrats’ to our friend lived in Australia from 1974-82 and Milton Tootoosis for his work in when I came back the game had promoting hockey in Saskatchewan. changed to something like roller derby Keep up the good work Milton! Sports on ice. need more people like you. No more fancy stick-handling and Commercial Break passing plays: just dumping the puck Your humble scribe (aka ‘ink- in and chasing it, with lots of cross- stained wretch’) has been called to the checking, interference and high- Bar in Manitoba, which means I have sticking. joined Boudreau Law a firm special - That grated on my referee’s izing in Aboriginal Law in Winnipeg. nerves, I having taken to officiating to I have not, however, thrown away earn money to go to university and my goose quill, having resolved to then ending up as the Referee-in- work part-time at a law practice while Chief for Australia, where the game writing books on legal subjects, a task was a very minor sport played mostly which local friends and Saskatoon by Canadian ex-pats. publishers Purich Publishing keep I see that the game has made a reminding me about when I lag behind good comeback, with the players schedule! being bigger, stronger, and faster than Last word ‘back in the day’, a fact that I will not Speaking of the NHL playoffs it admit in the depths of my soul. appears that a flock of Ducks recently Back then, it was commented that downed some Jets in the Winnipeg ‘Moose’ Vasko, a defenceman for area, leading to a great gnashing of Chicago Black Hawks, was too big to teeth by fans who had not tasted play hockey at 205 pounds. Stanley Cup playoffs in many years. Today many forwards are much (Editor’s Note: Congratulations, larger than that. Paul!) MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 7 Junior Achievers in La Loche – talk about success!

By Ray Penner For Eagle Feather News LA LOCHE – It would be hard to find anywhere in Canada where there are bet - ter Junior Achievement success stories than those of La Loche, Saskatchewan. “I’m so proud of these students,” says Theresa Huntley, the JA Company Program instructor and high school ca - reer transitions teacher at La Loche Com - munity School. “Many of them went far beyond the program expectations with the businesses they created, and showed their true talent as entrepreneurs.” Huntley helped launch the Junior Achievement Company Program last fall. Her class had 15 students who cre - ated six companies. Over a four month Junior Achievers Amber Fontaine, Dylan Janvier, and Preston St. Pierre showed their own version of “corporate com - period, students had to decide who they munity involvement” at the La Loche Santa Claus parade. were going to work with, what product or service they were going to provide, and pany now sells coffee and tea at the what to call the company. school during afternoon breaks, bringing They then had to go through all the in more than $500 a month. stages of manufacturing, marketing, and Not to be outdone, Taste for Tea managing the company to show a profit. was also an “instant hit” at the tourna - A typical JA student company might gen - ment and also operates during the after - erate only a very modest profit of a few noon breaks. There’s a competitive spirit hundred dollars. In comparison, even the in these Achievers, to be sure, but also a least successful La Loche JA venture sense of teamwork and dedication to showed a profit of close to $500, with their community. others tallying profits in the thousands. For the La Loche Santa Clause Pa - One of the high flyers was Bead - rade, all the JA companies joined to - work by Curbee, started by students Cur - gether to create a float and handed out tis Fontaine and Mytaya Lemaigre. They candy canes. secured a contract to create and supply The community is an important fac - 150 pairs of beaded earrings as gifts for tor in the success of the JA companies in all participants in a provincial volleyball her Program, says Huntley. tournament in La Loche. “Home-based and small businesses “I learned the importance of bal - can do very well in a place where people ancing out payments, and the importance have money, but not a lot of places of the economy while in the JA pro - nearby where they can spend it,” she ex - gram,” notes plains. Fontaine. “La Loche Collin Mont - I learned that supported our JA grand, a student who companies in many created Montgrand’s ways because they Photography, says “I you can achieve liked not only what learned that you can the students were achieve your goal by your goal by be - doing as young peo - believing in yourself ple, but also the and working hard lieving in yourself goods and services through the business they were offering. you’re trying to and working hard Junior Achievement build.” helped to prove that Montgrand through the busi - you can start a ven - showed what he ture in your north - means by securing a ness you’re trying ern home commu - contract to do all the nity and do well.” grad photos for the to build.” That’s why school, and most re - –Curtis Fontaine Huntley does not cently a contract to hesitate to recom - do the photography mend JA to other for the mayor’s upcoming federal elec - northern teachers. tion bid. “It’s relatively easy to start a JA The spirit of Junior Achievement Company Program. Junior Achievement was demonstrated in many ways during gives you lots of support, and everything the past winter. Students in Jacked Up is clearly laid out. Coffee put in 10 to 12 hours a day sell - “Most importantly to me, though, is ing coffee at a weekend tournament, im - they also provide scholarships and other pressing the provincial organizers to the incentives to help our students reach their extent that they donated a commercial true potential. It’s a very rewarding ex - coffee maker to the school. The com - perience for everyone involved.” 8 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 Getting to know Jack

By Kris Foster For Eagle Feather News SASKATOON – A lot of people know Jack Saddleback. They know he is a Cree man studying sociology. They know he is a two-spirit, transgender gay man. And as of March 26, they know he will be the new University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) president. But there is more to Saddleback than that. He’s the third First Nation, but first transgender USSU president. Saddleback is the third Aboriginal president in a row, following Jared Brown and Max FineDay. “It’s important to celebrate these milestones as a campus community,” said Saddleback. “I happen to be First Nation and openly transgender, but we are all di - verse and unique individuals.” Saddleback says he almost didn’t run for president “It took me quite a while to decide. I come from a number of marginalized groups and have faced a series of barriers, Albertan Jack Saddleback became the new University of Saskatchewan Students’s Union president on May 1. both external and internal. I was afraid going forward.” and wasn’t sure if the campus was ready Saddleback’s final two platform for a First Nation, two-spirit, transgender planks were about engagement, both with president,” said Saddleback, who was the student body on campus and the vice-president of student affairs this past broader community off campus. year. “We need to engage with students at In the end he ran, and won. “Every - all levels to find out what issues we can ad - one has an identity. Mine just happens to dress.” As for community engagement, he be rarer than most. People didn’t see me as said he wants to make sure students know a First Nation man or a trans man; they what funding is available to them to do saw just a skilled, experienced and pas - even more community work. sionate individual.” He likes Huskies more than all cats Saddleback is putting his passion, … except one experience and skills behind a four-point “I grew up with a wolf-husky cross platform that won him the election with named Princess,” said Saddleback, who more than 47 per cent of the votes. was raised in Samson Cree Nation in He stressed the importance of creat - Maskwacis, Alberta. “I definitely like dogs ing a mental health strategy for the cam - more than cats, except The Lion King is pus. “Mental health is a huge passion of my favourite movie.” mine and through my own experience with Not only did he grow up with a depression and suicide, I consider myself princess, he also met the Queen an advocate for change.” Last year, he was “Not a lot of people know that I met named a Face of Mental Illness with the the Queen. I was one of a few people who Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and got the chance to present her with some Mental Health, and shared his struggles artwork at a cornerstone-unveiling event at and stories about mental illness across the the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.” country. Joining Saddleback on the USSU ex - The U of S is one of the last U15 uni - ecutive are: Gabe Senecal, vice-president versities without such a strategy. “There of academic affairs; Kehan Fu, vice-pres - are gaps and we need to bridge those gaps ident of student affairs; and Ata Merat, so that no one falls through and that means vice-president of operations and finance. faculty and staff too. Our success as stu - “The exec is filled with amazing peo - dents relies on the wellbeing of the faculty ple with great skills. It’s going to be a and staff.” well-rounded team and I’m really stoked Another major issue for Saddleback to get started.” is creating a sexual assault policy. “This is The USSU president has a seat wait - a huge issue across Canada and we are no ing for him on the U of S Board of Gov - different.” ernors and he is looking forward to occu - He wants to create concrete steps pying it. “But the board is like Las Vegas: that can be followed by those reporting what happens there, stays there,” he said assaults and those receiving the reports. with a laugh. “We need to make it clear what steps Saddleback assumed the role of will be taken and what the procedure USSU president on May 1. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 9 Look out bullies ... the good guys are coming for you

Bullies beware. Last month there was There are many risks attached to social young people committing suicide because I think that many of us have at least one a Pink Shirt campaign crossing Canada. media sites and cyber bullying is one of the they were bullied. It’s sad to say but memory of either being bullied or bullying From coast to coast provinces are large risks. sometimes it’s the parents that are bullying someone but it doesn’t have to be that way taking a stand against bullying. Bullies have become more vicious their own children. Tapew! for future generations. The “pink shirt” movement began in since the introduction Some parents The anti-bullying movement has September 2007 in Nova Scotia when two of the Internet. These want their children gained momentum. More and more people Grade 12 students decided that the bullies days it is common to to excel in have cell phones and they are recording had crossed the line when they targeted a hear people speak of academics or acts of violence and bullying behaviours fellow high school student by shouting “cyberbullying”. sports and push that they witness. You just have to watch homophobic insults at him for wearing a Unlike physical their kids so hard the news to see that even police officers and pink shirt to school. bullying, electronic that that it takes the security guards are guilty. Travis Price and David Shepherd bullies can remain fun out of learning There are materials available to organized a protest with their fellow virtually anonymous and participating in educate parents, teachers and the public students to wear pink and to support for using temporary email accounts and organized sports. about cyber bullying. their bullied classmate and the pink shirt different names on Facebook, Twitter, Have you ever witnessed some We all need to pay attention and let the anti-bullying movement was born. Instagram and other social media venues. parents at a hockey game yelling at their bullies know that we won’t take it anymore, The protest spread from school to If you are a victim of cyber bullying kid for missing a goal or failing to pass the nor will we will stand by and watch school and eventually around the world. tell your parents, report it to the police puck? Imagine what that poor kid is going someone else get bullied. These two students were so successful that because it is a crime. through at home. There is goodness in all people. many provinces in Canada have dedicated Let’s all send a message to bullies to Have you ever heard a couple having Respect, humility, generosity, integrity and one day a year to anti-bullying campaigns. think before sending or posting cruel words in the grocery store or Wal-Mart honesty; we can’t go wrong if we The United Nations declared the official rumours that will damage reputations and aisle? I have and it’s horrible. remember these teachings and make them UN Anti-Bullying Day to be May 4 in end friendships. Don’t disclose people’s You can see the physical changes in a part of our daily lives. 2012. The U.S. and British schools also personal data on websites. No name calling person’s stature when they are being I encourage all of you to wear celebrate on this day. or excluding people. belittled; their face may turn red maybe something pink to symbolize that we as a Bullying is a major problem in our Don’t make up stories and spread they stare at the floor; their shoulders are community will not tolerate bullying schools, communities, workplaces, homes gossip. There is an old saying that if you slumped or they lag behind their partner anywhere in any form. and on the Internet. According to a new don’t have anything good to say then don’t like a dog following its master. Not a pretty Be kind to one another. Angus Reid poll three in four Canadian say anything at all. sight. Thank you for your letters and emails. adults said they were bullied while in Be a leader in your school or Bullying happens in the workplace; it You can write to me Sandee Sez CO Eagle school. Nearly half of the parents polled community and promote inclusion, respect can come from coworkers or supervisors Feather News PO Box 924, Saskatoon, SK said their children have been bullied at and empathy; let’s put an end to bullying or even the clients that your company or send an email to some point. behaviours. More and more we hear about serves. [email protected] 10 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 Cree protocol for ceremony

Part Three of a four part series by Louise Halfe Tobacco ties are made for particular ceremonies such as the shake-tent, a vision quest and other ceremonies. They are generally not used by the Plains Cree to be presented to an Elder to gather information or for the more common sweat lodge. It is more honorable to present a pipe or pouch of tobacco rather than a pinch, as this indicates the respect of accumulated knowledge the Elder has earned over the many years of discipline, reflection and gathering. This tobacco is used to enter ceremony with spirit, to receive and learn how to share what is being asked for. It is advisable for the recipient to gift the Elder Michelle LaVallee was the curator for the book 7:Professional Native Indian in nâcinêhikê , in return for Artists Inc. The book swept several awards at the Sask Book Awards last gathering information, month. knowledge, stories, songs, medicine, or ceremony. nâcinêhikê suggests that “there Dumont among Book Award winners is a valuable exchange for his/her request” and “it is not for By Andréa Ledding Donald Ward who not only won a nothing.” For Eagle Feather News national CBC fiction competition, One must remember that The 22nd annual Saskatchewan but read all her columns to get a these Elders have earned their Book Awards once again sported a sense of her writing style. knowledge through many years strong Indigenous representation. “This is my second book and of ceremony, sacrifice and Dawn Dumont’s Rose’s Run was it’s amazing how much you learn humility in their own quest for nominated in four categories and won with each book.” understanding. the Regina Book Award, while 7: Pro - “We are very honoured and sur - A “bundle” is another term fessional Native Indian Artists Inc. prised to have received a that is often confused. The curated by Michelle LaVallee swept Saskatchewan Book Award,” noted Elders say a true bundle – the publishing categories as the year’s Angie Caron who with her father nayâhcikan - contains hair and big winner. Ken Caron received the City of the clothing of a deceased “It was so exciting, it’s the best Saskatoon Book Award for Manny’s person. Sweet grass and tobacco feeling when you write something Memories. are wrapped in prayer cloth because there are so many distrac - Ernie Loutitt received five nom - along with these personal tions out there, and to have someone inations and took home the Aborigi - remnants. This bundle must go to notice, it’s not like you’re yelling nal People’s Writing Award for In - through ceremony to be into a tornado, it’s a great feeling to dian Ernie: Perspectives on Policing honored, blessed and to carry on have people reading your work,” and Leadership, published by Purich the memory and teachings of the LOUISE HALFE noted Dumont. Press. deceased. “People will sometimes write Michelle LaVallee says she To accept the responsibility of a bundle is a life-long commitment that requires to me or send me private messages wasn’t expecting any of this let alone the correct protocol and the participation in the Ghost Dance and other related and every single message I’m so all three publishing awards. ceremonies. Recently, the beautifully created moccasin vamps honoring the grateful they took the time to read “It’s always good to get recog - missing and murdered aboriginal women are symbols, a remembrance of their the book, and then to write me.” nition for work you’ve done, even a lives. While her primary goal was en - nomination, so the McKenzie The vamps are a bundle in their own way. Creating them was a commemora - tertainment, she also hopes her fic - Gallery had a few publications that tive reminder of their complete absence. They are unique bundles, not to be tional truthfulness will either spark were up for awards. So that was re - confused with the original nayâhcikan, but worthy of having their own ceremony recognition or bring deeper insights ally great, we were really excited and protocol carefully developed through a community consensus. into First Nations culture. An avid about that,” said LaVallee. In the nêhiyaw community iskwêwak, “women,” are asked to refrain from runner herself, Dumont’s character “It’s pretty validating when participating in most ceremonies when they are in their moon. This is not because Rose is very much a different person your work is recognized by organi - they are dirty and unwanted. On the contrary, it is because it is a power time. who initially appeared to Dumont in zations, awards, and your peers.” “When Creator called for the universal energies to come together in that sound, a dream about a woman from a re - “It was a huge project with lots that vibration, what came were the universal energies to create Mother Earth. It serve running a marathon. of people involved in production and is those universal energies that came together that manifest the physical form of “That feels like a goal for an publication,” LaVallee said, noting not her behavior in women. upper class lady – not something only did she work on it during her “We emulate everything that she teaches the universe must be. So it isn’t just others consider when they’re down maternity leave, having already spent Mother Earth, it is how we are connected.” and out, because they’re already run - seven years researching, but there Creator, Mother Earth, Women’s ability to bring new life; this places women ning one every day and so it adds to were seven other established col - as intermediary between earth and the spiritual world. The potential to help a new that layer of difficulty – for this leagues from various areas who con - soul transform, to cross from the other world into this world, is the heart of feminine woman it was a way of pulling her - tributed scholarship to the catalogue, potency.Regardless of one’s gender identity, they will never forget body form self out of her problems, and grew including her maternity leave re - they came in at birth. That was the beginning of their story. from that idea.” placement Hilary Knutson, designer In nêhiyawêwin birth is referred to as mamahtâwisiwin, “arriving from a When Dumont was notified, Russ Portico, and three of the feature spiritual place filled with medicine powers.” both about the nominations, and later artists themselves. The arrival of women’s period is sometimes referred to as “her grandmoth - the win, she was thrilled and is both Like others in attendance, she ers have arrived” which insinuates the innate wisdom- kiskêyihtamowin, she grateful and encouraged as she found the event and awards beautiful, possesses. Wisdom in Latin and in Greek means to “taste life.” In nêhiyawêwin, works on a sequel … and awaits the exciting, and humbling. kiskêyihtamowin loosely means “the sacred things I know from which my heart birth of her first child. Or in Dumont’s words: “Writing has eaten.” “Every little bit of attention is like labour – you never know how Mathew Fox, a theologian writes “…There are two places to find wisdom: in your book gets can increase your it’s gonna go but you know the end re - nature and religious traditions … Nature is a powerful source of wisdom.” readership,” she noted, expressing sult is going to be a part of you – a part Some Elders believe that not every woman is a grandmother and it is only gratitude for Thistledown Press and of you that the world gets to hear through pregnancy and childbirth that this right has been earned. her team, including talented editor screaming on the plane.” (Next month Cree concepts of ceremony and protocol) MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 11 High achieving Peepeekisis student off to El Salvador

By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News PEEPEEKISIS –Tiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin’s dedica - tion to her community and her culture has earned her a place in the 2015 Global Citizen Youth Leadership (GCYL) program and a trip to El Salvador. The Grade 11 student from the Peepeekisis Pe - sakastew School was nominated by her teachers for her exemplary attitude towards her studies and for being a model of hard work and determination. Bigsnake-Keewatin didn’t just get in based on the letter from her teachers though, the application process was quite involved. “There was wicked criteria for this,” she said. “I had to write out an essay and then we had an interview. I found out three days later and I was crying. I was bawling my eyes out.” The Leadership program is an opportunity for nine Saskatchewan youth to visit and connect with Saskatchewan non-governmental organizations work - ing in El Salvador. In El Salvador, youth participants will meet with staff and volunteers from local organi - Tiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin’s respect for her culture is demonstrated through her powwow dancing. zations, as well as community members who have been impacted by international development efforts. The youth will learn more about the work being done in partnership with Saskatchewan non-govern - mental organizations and their international colleagues, and how they can continue to be involved in interna - tional development, locally and globally. Youth partic - ipants will be accompanied to El Salvador by experi - enced staff from The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, The Committee Against AIDS (Co - CoSI), and the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation (SCIC). Bigsnake-Keewatin’s teachers were effusive in their recommendation. Her work ethic was praised as well as her involvement in extracurricular activities at the school. But her tie to her culture really sticks out. “Tiarra has always been immersed in her culture and proud to showcase her talents performing in many powwow celebrations across the province. Tiarra has spent many hours in creating her dance regalia from the sewing of the dress, stitching of her moccasins and of course doing her own intricate beadwork for her outfit. Always proud to represent her Cree/Blackfoot heritage, Bigsnake-Keewatin has taken great interest in acquiring the Cree language and learning the history of her Blackfoot ancestry as well as her Korean lineage from a great-grandmother on her father’s side of the family. Tiarra has always been proud to share her beau - tiful mosaic of culture with many of her peers and younger students in and around the community.” Bigsnake-Keewatin credits her success to her mother Jacqui Keewatin and her grandparents Ruth and Gilbert Keewatin. “My mom got me into the powwow circle and taught me how to live and be nice to people and have the right attitude,” said Bigsnake-Keewatin. “My grand - parents would always take me to powwows.” She is excited for the trip but is going in there with full knowledge that it will be difficult. “I want to come back and change the way I look at what we have here. El Salvador is the second poorest country in the world. I believe it will make me grateful for what we have here.” She also expects the trip to change her life. “I want to see the effects in this country but I also want to help them in any way I can. I want to teach them about my culture but also learn lots about their cere - mony and protocol,” added Bigsnake-Keewatin. “I don’t know what I will get out of this trip, but I do know that it will be good.” 12 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 PCS science fair piques students’ interest in science and math

By John Lagimodiere “We are starting to get there in event. Even though these future scientists “We need to inspire the next gener - Of Eagle Feather News terms of dentistry and medicine but we are far away from the labour market, ation of geologists and engineers and SASKATOON – Exploding volcanoes, need to get better. they will be the employees of the future. subjects like math and science are basics plant projects and booger blobs were all needed in those fields. In the long run, on display for an esteemed panel of we need to do more of this for young judges to deem best in show for the 4th people.” annual PotashCorp Mini-Science Fair. Marie Wolfe from Muskeg Lake K-5 students from Saskatoon Tribal Cree Nation did a classic experiment Council First Nation schools had their with a stalk of celery. best ideas put forward from what they “We put food colouring in the water learned through research and built dis - and the plant drank up the water and plays explaining their projects. changed colour,” said Wolfe who really The students took part in robotics enjoyed working on computers for re - demonstrations and other science pre - search and creating her story board. But sentations and also explained their proj - her favourite part was lunch. ects to judges from PotashCorp, the Uni - “I love pizza. It is my favourite food versity of Saskatchewan as well as the because of the cheese.” Tribal Council. It wasn’t about winning, The students worked hard on their as all the students receive prizes, it was projects and were duly rewarded with more about inspiration. pizza and their own individual science “This event creates new opportuni - kits to take home, and again, according to ties for the students and an awareness of Tribal Chief Thomas, the science fair their talent in science and math. We need had the desired effect. to develop those talents,” said Saskatoon “The big thing I see is not so much Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas. the experiments, but how the kids are “They are naturally curious right engaged. now and if we can get them interested in “Doing this and seeing stuff that some of the non-traditional employment Marie Wolfe from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation found her experiment interesting. they don’t necessarily see in their class areas, like engineering, it is good. Uni - back home that creates some excitement versities have done a great job in devel - “We need to be in all industries like “Our business doesn’t just plan for and hopefully they build their own robot oping nurses, and teachers and social economics or science and these students next year, we have 80 years of potash to or science experiment and just be inter - workers but we have to work on the nat - are certainly capable of that.” mine here,” said Leanne Bellegarde, Di - ested. ural sciences,” says Thomas. PotashCorp sponsors the yearly rector Aboriginal Strategy at PotashCorp. “That’s the big thing.” MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 13 Northern youth role model hoping to inspire others

By Linda Mikolayenko played in his life, especially after he lost For Eagle Feather News his father at the age of 15. ISLAND LAKE FIRST NATION – “One of the reasons I became who I “Education, to me, was always number was in high school was because of my one, and always will be,” says Simon aunt, who mentored me after my father Crookedneck of the Island Lake First Na - passed away,” he says, noting that he tion. never missed a day of school, played Crookedneck is one of four young sports, and participated in extra-curricu - people from northern Saskatchewan fea - lar activities such as movie nights and tured in a series of posters recently pro - dances. duced and distributed by the Northern Already a well-rounded individual, Healthy Communities Partnership Crookedneck says he benefited from the (NHCP). With his passion for education, events of this initiative and a highlight for it is appropriate that on one of those him was a team-building workshop in La posters, he is pictured in front of the Is - Ronge. land Lake First Nation School, with the “They taught us how to be better quote, “I work with youth to get them in - presenters, how to project ourselves – to volved in sports and activities to keep be a true role model,” he says. them in school.” As part of the campaign, some of The posters are one component of a the role models presented leadership Northern Youth Role Model Campaign workshops for other youth in Fond du initiative of the Building Vibrant Youth Lac and Pelican Narrows, and each of the Action Team of NHCP, an interagency four youth had access to $1,000 to plan coalition of almost 20 partners repre - and execute a project in their own com - senting various sectors including First munity, says Frain. Nations, government, health, education, Crookedneck chose to organize a Simon Crookedneck of the Island Lake First Nation is featured in one of a se - community outreach and recreation. half-day “Gym Blast” at his school. Stu - ries of posters as part of the Northern Youth Role Model Campaign. (Poster courtesy Northern Healthy Communities Partnership) The campaign began just over a year dents formed teams and played a variety ago in April 2014, with a call for youth of games for points, including wheelbar - role models in northern Saskatchewan, row races and a pudding eating contest. says Amanda Frain, Population Health “We handed out prizes. They really Promotion Coordinator at the Population enjoyed it,” says Crookedneck, who has Health Unit. After a selection process, in since graduated from the school and is addition to Crookedneck, three other now 19 years old and pursuing pre-elec - youth and their mentors were chosen to trical studies in Meadow Lake. He hopes participate in the project. what he is doing now will inspire other They were Claude Bridges and students. mentor Darrell Sewap of Sandy Bay; “Not a lot of people from here go Summer Michel and mentor Angie into the trades,” says the young role Merasty of Pelican Narrows; and Shay - model. Lynn McAuley and mentor Jenna Crookedneck also has a message for O’Connor of La Ronge. adults. That message is one that will be “The mentors and chaperones have airing on MBC Radio, also an NHCP been phenomenal in their support,” says partner, for the months of May and June: Frain. “My advice would be – never give up on Crookedneck gives credit to his your kids. Be their number one supporter aunt, Melissa Martell, for the role she and never give up on them.” Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 D14 elorme finds his purpose as powwow dancer

By Janelle Mandes For Eagle Feather News REGINA – Cadmus Delorme is one of the hundreds of dancers that took part of this year’s First Nations Uni - versity of Canada (FNUniv) 37th Annual Powwow held in Regina’s Brandt Centre. The former FNUniv student completed his first year of powwow dancing and hosted a men’s prairie chicken dance special on the first night of this year’s powwow as he was danced into the circle. “This year will mark one year that I started danc - ing on the dance floor,” says Delorme. “It is kind of a protocol for every dancer to be welcomed into the pow - wow family,” he adds. Delorme always wanted to dance but no one in his immediate family dances powwow so last March he told his wife, Kimberly, that he planned to begin danc - ing. With the help of one of his friends he was able to get a men’s chicken regalia. At last year’s FNUniv powwow, after receiving his powwow outfit, Delorme recalls he was so that ex - cited he was going to dance that he showed up early on the first day. “I was sitting there watching other dancers putting on their regalia … I felt like a little kid (because) I did - n’t know how to dress up,” Delorme says laughing. A few of the other dancers helped him get ready by Cadmus Delorme was one of the dancers at this year’s First Nations University powwow in Regina. adjusting his regalia before he danced in his first grand entry. The FNUniv powwow committee consists of fac - “It feels great to be back home here in Treaty 4 ter - “A whole new Cadmus came out at the grand en - ulty, staff and students who volunteer their time all year ritory, so this is like coming home,” says Chief Bellegarde. try. I can’t believe I never danced before. That’s the kind round to organize what is called the kick off to powwow “I remember years ago, it was a time to help support of feeling I got,” Delorme says. season. the students at SIFC (now FNUniv), it was a chance to lift “It’s a feeling you can’t explain, people are danc - The committee starts their planning eight months each other up and to celebrate our culture and our language ing with you in a spiritual way. You get so much energy, prior to accommodate close to 7,000 people that show up and I’m pleased it’s still going after 37 years,” he adds. power and happiness to be Indigenous.” every year. They do a lot of fundraising including taco The powwow was started by the student body to en - Richard Missens, chair of the FNUniv Powwow sales, raffles, and steak nights but heavily rely on spon - courage the continuation of their educational paths and to for the past 10 years, says the students are a huge part sorships such as Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority celebrate the culture and powwow ceremony. of the event. (SIGA), K+S Potash Canada and other organizations. Delorme, who is currently FNUniv’s student re - “This is the time of the year that students are on Many guest speakers are invited including cruitment officer, says if you want to dance just do it. their last papers, last exams or they’re convocating so Saskatchewan MLAs, First Nation Chiefs and even “Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are wanting this is a good time to powwow,” Missens says. “They AFN’s National Chief Perry Bellegarde who address and to try it. I was so shy, I didn’t know what to do,” De - are an important part of the celebration.” acknowledge the crowd. lorme says. “I have a purpose and I just found it.” MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 15 16 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 U of S Aboriginal students organizing 2016 business competition

By Fraser Needham “Just welcoming them to Saskatchewan as a For Eagle Feather News whole. Lots of people have never been here and SASKATOON – Two Aboriginal students at the Uni - they don’t necessarily know what the U of S has to versity of Saskatchewan are playing lead roles in or - offer necessarily. So I think just showing them ganizing a major undergraduate business competition our passion as students and definitely welcoming that will come to Saskatoon next year. them with open hands.” Twenty-four-year-old Brett Lendsay is in his third Although helping to organize JDC West will year and 18-year-old Emily Martell in her first year at require literally hundreds of volunteer hours be - the Edwards School of Business. tween now and next January, both Lendsay and Lendsay is the vice-president of corporate relations Martell say they have no hesitations about making and Martell vice-president of events on the planning the commitment because of the tremendous op - committee for the 2016 JDC West Business Competi - portunities the competition provides. tion. The first JDC West Competition was held at The JDC West Competition will take place next the University of British Columbia in 2006. January and is expected to bring about 600 people from Over roughly the past 10 years, the competi - all over Western Canada to Saskatoon. tion has raised about $1.2 million for charities. Lendsay says because of the size and scope of the The theme of the 2016 JDC West Competition competition, it takes several months to plan. is “Achieving Excellence” with the three basic “This is a very big competition so there’s a lot of pillars being connections, prosperity and technol - preparing,” he says. “It’s about a year in advance you ogy. have to get started. The competition is expected to bring in about “We have different positions ranging from mar - $1.5 million in direct and indirect economic impact Emily Martell and Brett Lendsay are playing key keting, events, gala, corporate relations, finance, ath - benefits to both the province and Saskatoon . roles in the JDC West Business Competition. letics, debate, academic cases – so really there is an im - mense amount of work put into this, all run by students and recent alumni of the U of S.” The four-day competition consists of four key components with challenges in the areas of academics, debate, athletics and social responsibility. The academics component contains competition in 10 core areas including accounting, entrepreneurship, fi - nance and not-for-profit business strategy. The debate portion is based on a parliamentary style of debate where four students split into govern - ment and opposition teams and argue the merits or flaws of a specific proposal. In athletics, students compete in one or more sports which for the 2016 competition will be ringette and dodgeball. Martell says some consider the social component the most strenuous part of the competition. “The social aspect of JDC West is definitely unique,” she says. “It’s about 48 hours of an intense competition testing your limits. There’s different types of competition with that, maybe they’ll have to eat some things that you wouldn’t normally want to eat – they’re tested physically, emotionally and mentally through 48 hours.” JDC West also costs a significant amount of money to put on and requires the organizing committee to manage about $650,000. As vice-president of corporate relations, this is where Lendsay comes in. He says his job is to hit up corporations for spon - sorships and convince them it is a good idea to have their brand on display at the competition. “We need an immense amount of money to rent out facilities and run the events, ensure we have hotel rooms for all of the 600 students, judges and corporate sponsors. So there’s a lot of great opportunities for the sponsors to come in and connect with tomorrow’s busi - ness leaders and young, driven passionate business stu - dents. “So it’s a fantastic opportunity for all these spon - sors to meet, greet, recruit and get their brand out there.” As vice-president of events, Martell’s job is to en - sure all venues for the competition are booked and ready to go come next January. She says her role also entails showing visitors from out of province what Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and the U of S have to offer including the province, city and university’s unique Aboriginal heritage. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News 17 Students learn about wildlife conservation

By Fraser Needham “We’re going out to investigate those For Eagle Feather News sites to see what’s there, to see what they’re PRINCE ALBERT – A group of Saskatchewan First eating. And get an idea of how many bison Nations high school students had the opportunity to they’re eating but also how many moose and learn about ecology and animal conservation as part of elk and deer they might be taking and how a trip to the Prince Albert National Park in late March. that changes from year to year. The 11 youth are from the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation “The idea is we can figure out how and Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation. many bison are wolves taking, how many bi - As part of the trip, they were taken on a tour of wolf son are hunters taking, how many we lose to prey sites throughout the park. disease and get an overall idea of what the Over the course of the past two winters, Parks population trend is going to look like in the Canada officials have been tracking the hunting move - future and possible management ac - ments of wolves within the park to see what effect this is tions.” having on the bison population. After a kill, the wolves don’t Above, several students headed to Roughly six wolves in two different packs were ini - tend to leave much behind – usually the woods to learn about wolves. tially captured, outfitted with global positioning system some hair, bones and stomach con - Left, Preston Smallchild from collars and then released back into the wild. tents. Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation Through the GPS collars, park staff is able to track At one kill site, the students removes incisor teeth from moose the movements of the wolves via computer. were part of an investigation of what calf remains for sample testing. Seth Cherry is the wildlife ecologist at the Prince Al - ended up being a moose. Tim Peekeekoot served as the chap - bert National Park who led the trip. They examined the rumen erone for the students from Ahtahkakoop He says they want to show the students what the park (stomach contents) and took samples First Nation. has to offer and at the same time teach them about the im - of both teeth and bones. He says the community believes it portance of ecology and conservation. The teeth can be used to deter - is important to make the youth aware of “The reason we’re interested in bringing youth out is mine the age of an animal and lipid the various environmental factors that first of all to get them out in the park and expose them to from the bone marrow to determine how healthy it is or if are playing a role in the bison population and their de - some of the research we’re doing and some areas they it is suffering from disease. clining numbers. maybe haven’t seen before,” he says. Cherry says park officials have noticed over the past “There’s only a few remaining live buffalo in this “But also to teach them about bison conservation and decade that the plains bison population has declined by as world and I thought it would be a blessing for them to bison ecology. I think a lot of individuals, some members much as 50 per cent. know this count,” he says. particularly from the Ahtahkakoop First Nation, hunt that In the first winter of the study, he says they tracked The youth were also introduced to a Masters student bison population so they do have an interest in bison con - nine bison killed by wolves but this past winter just one. from Germany who is using motion triggered cameras servation.” This may have to do with the fact that this year’s win - placed at strategic points on the west side of the park to Cherry adds a lot can be learned from examining a ter was milder and with less snow making it more difficult capture images of the wolves to determine more informa - wolf prey site. for the wolves to track the bison. tion about their travel patterns and composition of packs. 18 Eagle Feather News MAY 2015 St. Louis teen builds on proficiency in karate

By Fraser Needham it because of the increased contact in sparring that comes For Eagle Feather News with pursuing higher belts. ST. LOUIS – Brayden Caron has built upon a high achievement As a result of his high level of training, Caron is a level in the martial art of karate to gain success in other areas of member of both the ISKF Canadian National Karate Club sport, academics and community activity. and IKD Shotokan Karate Club. The 15-year-old Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation member holds a He has participated in a number of provincial and na - second-degree black belt in karate achieved after a decade of hard tional tournaments and received various medals for his efforts. work and training. This summer, Caron will compete at his second He is also SRC president at St. Louis Community School and a world tournament. member of the Student Voice Club for the Saskatchewan Rivers Preparing for this tournament requires him to train School Division. twice a week at the St. Louis Dojo Club as well as prac - In terms of sports, Caron is member of his school volleyball, bad - ticing at home. minton, basketball, track and softball teams. He also participates in Caron’s mother Gloria Merasty says she is happy to hockey and curling. see her son participate in a variety of activities as long as Caron has placed both first and third in school public speaking he keeps on top of his schoolwork. contests and has been nominated for Prince Albert’s “Badge of Respect She says she does worry from time to time about and Peace Award” three times for work done on behalf of the Prince him getting hurt in tournament competition but there is Albert and Area Community Against Family Violence. not much she can do in terms of holding the teen back. And he has done all this will earning top marks at school and Contact is supposed to be limited in sparring but not all holding down a part-time job. competitors always display complete control. The Grade 10 student says for him karate is much more than a Also, because of limited numbers of competitors his age sport. at the provincial level, it is not uncommon for Caron to have “Karate teaches discipline and it gives you a lot of confidence in Brayden Caron’s skill in karate carries over to spar against men at tournaments. yourself,” he says. to succes in other areas of his life. “At the tournaments I really don’t like watching him in At the same time, Caron says although pursuing karate to the the kumite – the sparring part,” Merasty says. level he has does gives him a high level of expertise in the martial art, these skills must “He has been competing in the men’s category during the provincial tournaments be - be used responsibly. cause there’s not many boys his age – maybe one or two – to compete with in the provincials “The dojo kun is seek perfection in character, be faithful and ever respect others and so they just put them with the men and the men are big guys.” refrain from violent behaviour. So, it’s like a guideline to how to present your karate or At the same time, she says she is very impressed with the discipline and confidence karate yourself outside the dojo.” has given her son to be successful in other activities. This means the martial art can only be used in self-defence. In July, Brayden Caron will travel to Toronto to compete in the IKD World He adds that he thinks a lot of younger people start with karate but don’t stick with CAMP/CUP. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News – Mining Week 19 Time has arrived to share resource revenue: report

value added.” University of Saskatchewan professor Ken Coates is another big proponent of resource revenue sharing KEN COATES with First Nations. PERRY BELLEGARDE He says industry has taken the lead on resource By Fraser Needham revenue sharing and it is now time for governments to ernment front.” For Eagle Feather News get on board. The report also says the natural resource industry; Resource revenue sharing with First Nations con - “There’s 260 resource revenue sharing, or impact employers and unions should work with government tinues to be a hot topic after a new report that says gov - and benefit, agreements across the country right now,” and First Nations to create a targeted strategy to address ernments should seriously examine the proposal. he says. First Nations’ employment needs. Governments in provinces such as Alberta and “And if you had actually suggested that ten years It adds a plan needs to be developed that facilitates Saskatchewan currently take in billions of dollars in ago, people would have said, ‘Oh, we might have five.’ meaningful involvement in natural resource develop - royalties each year from development in the natural re - So, something is actually happening really quickly and ment for First Nations including the environmental and source industry which includes oil and gas, uranium and it’s happening on the corporate front faster than the gov - land management process. potash. A number of First Nations leaders and advocates have long argued resource revenues should be directly shared as a way of truly honouring the treaties and lev - eling the economic playing field between First Nations and non-First Nations people. However, governments have been reluctant to con - sider the proposal. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has said on a number of occasions that resource revenue sharing with First Nations is not open for discussion. Yet, a new report, First Nations and Natural Re - source Development: Advancing Positive, Impactful Change, says this is exactly what governments should be doing. A five-member working group wrote the 40-page report that was commissioned by the Department of In - dian Affairs and Northern Development and Assembly of First Nations. The report’s mandate was to identify ways First Nations people and communities can fully share in the benefits of natural resource development. The working group spent over a year extensively studying natural resource projects and gaining feedback from both industry and First Nations leaders. It notes that between 2008 and 2012 governments took in $30 billion in natural resource revenues and the industry accounts for roughly 1.8 million direct and in - direct jobs. The natural resource industry is also the largest private employer of Aboriginal people at 8.3 per cent. It is estimated over the next decade Canada’s in - vestment in the natural resource sector could reach as high as $675 billion. Amongst its various recommendations, the report says a national discussion should be convened between government, industry and First Nations stakeholders which would examine resource revenue sharing as a best means of eliminating socio-economic disparities. Current Assembly of First Nations Leader and former Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde has long advocated for resource revenue sharing with First Nations. He says the proposal’s time has come. “It’s a concept, whether you call it resource rev - enue sharing, greater participation in the economy or equity ownership in major projects, it’s all about getting involved,” he says. “And getting First Nations involved on every step of the way of major projects from start to finish. It’s 20 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2015 Aboriginal Rights, Mining of Natural Resources and You What does it all mean?

By Peter Moroz and Bob Kayseas territories in this manner and held in trust or ‘owned’ Saskatchewan? What we have observed to date is What are Aboriginal rights, title and land by the Crown. To gain Aboriginal title beyond a that progressive First Nations leaders have realized claims? reservation, a community must prove through the that they have more to leverage than they have ever They are complex concepts because of the way Western legal system that traditional usage has ex - had before when it comes to exercising ‘control’ on that diverse sets of peoples view the world differ - isted in the past on lands held by the Crown. This is reserve lands, but also on traditional lands as well. ently. Simply put, one may describe Aboriginal where it becomes complicated. Examples of on reserve initiatives are seen rights as a comprehensive collection of all rights that Breaking down the above, Aboriginal rights are through the actions of White Bear First Nation and have to do with the ability to pursue, preserve and the rights to collectively and uniquely exist and others in their spearheading of the First Nations Oil protect traditional activities, culture and knowledge prosper as a defined and distinct people, Aboriginal and Gas and Money’s Management Act (FNOG - after the experience of invasion or colonization. title is the right to have collective say (or control) on MMA) in order to gain direct control over resource For the near 500 million Indigenous people how the land is used, and the Constitutional rights production and benefits, the creation of a joint ven - across the world, these moral rights are almost uni - upon which reserve lands were created represent an ture by Muskowekwan First Nation to one day build formly held at an ecological and collective level and ‘ownership interest’ of a specific geographical par - a potash mine on reserve lands, and the enterprising have to do with the right of ethnic and racial sur - cel of land within the mainstream western system. spirit of Onion Lake Cree Nation with respect to the vival. Notwithstanding these concepts above, from a creation of its own natural gas utility, each harness - Aboriginal title is actually a sub category of Government perspective, the treaties signed with ing the resources of their lands for the direct benefit Aboriginal rights. Considering the above, it is a bit many First Nations effectively extinguished Aborigi - of their people. of a misleading term, as ‘ownership’ in Western nal title to the lands, but from a First Nations per - There has also been a movement away from terms is not applied to it. Aboriginal title represents spective, the spirit and intent of their participation in modern treaties toward signing contractual agree - the natural and collective bond of Aboriginal peo - the treaties was misinterpreted or ignored. ments with industry, such as Impact Benefit Assess - ples to specific lands upon which they live, charac - Another mitigating factor relates to the lack of ments. terized by principles such as stewardship, control an implementation process following the signing of Examples of contractual agreements signed to and ‘home’. legitimize control of traditional ter - What this means is that ritories can be evidenced through Aboriginal peoples who have ti - historical partnerships between tle to land (have hunted, trapped, English River and highly progres - fished or used it for any other sive companies like Cameco lead - social or spiritual purpose in the ing to the creation of Aboriginal past), should have a say in how owned corporations such as Des it is used. This is especially so Nedhe Developments, which con - when development may interfere tinues to grow and have a signifi - with or deteriorates any histori - cant impact on the Saskatchewan cal or current traditional usage economy. These contractual agree - of that land. ments also strengthen the argument Thus Aboriginal title differs for Aboriginal title as corporations from mainstream (Western) are treated as an extension of the views of individual ownership in Crown. that Aboriginal title is held as a So, the recognition of Aborigi - distinct form of collective trust nal rights and title is highly impor - that resides exclusively with tant to corporations and govern - Aboriginal peoples. ments keen to accessing the Aboriginal rights and title resources upon which First Nations not only exist outside of Cana - communities sit upon, or have the dian law, but are recognized within it. Under Cana - the treaties, there has never been an interpretation of potential to control. While having leverage is a good dian law, negotiations between our forefathers pro - ‘little red schoolhouse’ or ‘medicine chest’ for ex - thing, it is neither sufficient nor significant if com - duced agreements whereby, the sovereign ample. The lack of an implementation with clear munities or corporations negotiate in bad faith, refuse government, or Crown, would, in exchange for the definition of terms within the treaties creates even to bridge their differences, or attempt to stake out use of lands, provide certain rights and benefits to more challenges when dealing with land manage - higher political ground. Aboriginal people by entering into a fiduciary rela - ment – all of which, today, occurs within the Indian The economic capital vested within the lands tionship through mutual agreement. A fiduciary rela - Act. held under Aboriginal rights and title cannot be tionship is one in which one party is put in a posi - Only until recently, has there much attention leveraged for the benefit of all if cultural capital tion of trust over another and has rights and powers and recognition of the concepts of Aboriginal rights (speaking the same language), bridging capital to be exercised for the benefit of that party. and title. This started in 1965 with the Supreme (reaching out to partners for necessary resources) and These agreements were protected under the Court Cases R v. BoB and White relating to rights, bonding capital (the political solidarity of First Na - British North America Act (BNA) and then extended Haida Nation v. British Columbia (2004) and tions leaders and their communities) are not invested to the Constitution of 1867. It does not matter as to Mikisew Cree First Nation v. Minister of Canadian in first. whether or not Aboriginal nations entered into Heritage (2005) relating to the Duty to Consult, up First Nations peoples must continue to hold treaties or not, the fiduciary relationship and obliga - to current day with Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Co - their leadership accountable for assuming more and tions held by the Crown remain the same to all un - lumbia (2014) relating to title in situations where no more of the Crown’s obligations while building the der the Constitution. This Constitutional recognition treaty agreements with the Crown stand in force. capacity, governance systems and institutions re - of distinct and inalienable rights (that is, they exist The ‘Duty to Consult’ has put the onus on gov - quired to legitimately act in the best interest of all outside of the relationship with the Crown and its le - ernment and industry to ensure that all First Nations Aboriginal peoples. gal systems) held by Aboriginal peoples have been who have probable cause for Aboriginal title are First Nations must continue to build and share translated into Western concepts of ‘property’ under duly included in any development plans for Crown knowledge about the process of leveraging their Canadian law. lands beyond their own reservations. rights in order to participate in the mining and re - Very small parts of the lands once occupied by So how does this relate to mining and natural source economy in a sober, sustainable and staged Aboriginal peoples were thus converted to reserve resource extraction for First Nations communities in manner, for the benefit of all. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 21 Forum brings aboriginal supply companies to forefront

By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News SASKATOON – Most mining companies in Saskatchewan have developed advanced policies and relationships with First Nation and Métis economic development groups and businesses across the province. This has helped strengthen their supply chain and provided access to good employees. At the recent Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum in April, suppliers to the industry heard the message loud and clear that the big companies expect their suppliers to have some sort of Aboriginal strategy that brings Aboriginal business to the forefront. The event discussed current mining operations and projects in Saskatchewan and the related supply chain opportunities for man - ufacturing and service businesses. It also provided practical infor - mation on how to be a preferred supplier to the mining industry. “Industry wants suppliers to be part of increasing their Abo - riginal involvement. They are asking suppliers to consider owner - ship, joint ventures, training, employment and other means to de - velop the Aboriginal portion of their industrial activities,” said Alun Richards Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Industrial & Mining Suppliers Association. “The larger suppliers and those serving the northern Saskatchewan mines are used to this. Small and medium Mining companies and suppliers got acquainted at the Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum . size suppliers generally understand the is - sue and are seeking means to meet these goals within their capabilities.” Several suppliers that are inter - ested in joint ventures or succession planning and Aboriginal economic de - velopment groups and businesses ready to get to business had the op - portunity to participate in a day-long session on Aboriginal supplier devel - opment the day prior to the forum. Presentations were made by First Nations Bank CEO Keith Martell, DERRICK WENISCH Des Nedhe Development President and COO Gary Merasty and former Cameco CEO Gerry Grandey and suppliers also heard about Aboriginal procurement from PotashCorp’s Leanne Bellegarde, Terry Bird from K+S Canada, Sean Willy from Cameco, Ken Smith from BHP Billiton and Carolanne Inglis-McQuay of Areva. Derrek Wenisch, a manager at WESTLUND/EMCO Water Solutions knows that times are changing and their biggest clients are asking for change. “We have heard they are putting more emphasis on Abo - riginal content, not only in their business, but in their suppliers as well,” Wenisch says. “It is important for us as a company that supplies products to various companies in the province to make sure that we engage ourselves and move forward in the direction of having that Abo - riginal involvement in our businesses,” he added. EMCO does have Aboriginal partnerships in other parts of Canada, so they have some experience. That experience taught them to do it right. “We need to find a viable model that is not only good for the Abo - riginal community but can also be profitable and successful into the fu - ture. We are looking at various ways to start putting a better foot forward to the demands of our customers. “There is a sense of urgency. But again, this is not a process that happens overnight. It is about building relationships not only for short term, but to continue to foster for several years.” This move by industry could potentially open the door for some lucrative business opportunities and Alun Richards knows it won’t be easy for his members, but it is important to start. “The question from smaller suppliers is often how to start. They need sources of information and contacts within industry and Aborigi - nal organizations as well as training to help them out. In the end, they will have to develop something that works for their particular cir - cumstances,” added Richards. “The opportunities are significant for both groups and will depend on developing relationships that work for everyone in - volved.” 22 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2015 SMA works with students, teachers to generate interest in mining careers

By Fraser Needham underground potash mine and a tour of an open pit coal ization also attended the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s For Eagle Feather News mine. Science and Culture Camp working with 80 Grade Four The Saskatchewan Mining Association is working The tour also makes stops at the Potash Interpretive students over three days. closely with both teachers and students to give them a Centre and T-Rex Discovery Centre before wrapping In May, SMA will be visiting schools in the File snapshot of what a career in the industry might have to up on August 21. Hills/Qu’Appelle area. offer. “It gives the teachers a really good view of the re - Saskatchewan Mining Week is May 24-30. In the third week of April, SMA visited schools in sources that we have in Saskatchewan as well as mining Fond du Lac, Black Lake, Wollaston Lake and Stony processes, the safety, the en - Rapids as part of the “Flying in Career Fair.” vironment, the processing of The career fair is put on by Keewatin Career De - these resources,” Grapes Yeo velopment Corporation and other participants included says. Cameco, Areva, Northern Resource Trucking, Points SMA also provides ed - Athabasca, Athabasca Catering, Northlands College and ucators with lesson plans and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology. kits on the mining industry In the SMA portion of the career fair, students were that can later be used in the given a quick introduction to mineral resource explo - classroom. ration including how to use maps to search and drill for Earlier this year, SMA mineral deposits. participated in the “The Fu - They also had the opportunity to ask questions ture Is Yours” career fair in about what sort of career opportunities there are in the Saskatoon which specifically mining sector, the salaries these careers offer and the ed - targets Aboriginal youth. ucation required to pursue various post-secondary pro - Over 800 students attended. grams in related fields. Last month, the organ -

SMA Education Outreach Coordinator Kate Grapes Yeo (far right) talks with students in Black Lake about career opportunities in mining. (Photo courtesy of KCDC).

Kate Grapes Yeo is the education outreach coordi - nator for SMA. “The whole idea behind the hands on activities was to give them a bit of a taste of what it would be like work - ing in that career,” she says. Although the SMA activity focused on mineral ex - ploration, Grapes Yeo says the mining industry offers a wide variety of different career choices. “One of the things that I tell the students is that there’s over 120 different careers that mining companies hire. Anywhere from engineers, geologists, geophysi - cists. We look for office staff, welders, electricians. So it’s people of all different educational backgrounds.” In mining camps, other career opportunities include catering, health care and cleaning related jobs, she adds. “We don’t just work underground. We’re not just miners – there’s nurses who work with mining companies, everybody in the front office also works for mining com - panies. So it’s not just looking for people to work actually on mine sites.” The SMA also works specifically with educators as part of the Geoventure Program. The idea behind the program is to help teachers in - corporate the most up-to-date information on mining into their curriculums. Beginning in mid-August, a group of 24 educators will be flown into northern Saskatchewan for a site tour of uranium mining and milling operations. Other site tours include a conventional surface and MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 23 Ronald McDonald House room dedicated to Edwin Boneleye

By John Lagimodiere that view the room. Of Eagle Feather News “To have the Edwin Boneleye SASKATOON – Edwin Boneleye was Room at the Ronald McDonald House a person dedicated to the North and his is important to the Athabasca people, home community of Black Lake. as it ensures there is a spot for the When he was diagnosed with can - families of sick children that are hos - cer last year, Athabasca Basin Develop - pitalized, providing them with an in - ment, Team Drilling, West Wind Aviation expensive alternative for accommoda - and Points Athabasca contributed tions.” $25,000 each for a total of $100,000 to The northern region of the Saskatoon’s Ronald McDonald House province has been the second biggest named after Edwin in honour of his bat - user since 1995 with over 1,400 fami - tle with cancer. lies accessing the facility. Boneleye had been on the board Artwork was donated and hung of Athabasca Basin Development for in the room. Some of these items were several years and was also a Chief and a pair of beaded leather gauntlets hand Councillor at Black Lake. Unfortu - crafted by Lena Adam of Fond du Lac nately he lost his battle with cancer. Leaders from businesses owned by Athabasca Basin Development pose with He - and donated by Scott’s General Store His name will live on at Ronald len Boneleye and her family at the dedication at Ronald McDonald House. in Stony Rapids. MacDonald House in Saskatoon. The (Photo by John Lagimodiere) These gauntlets were framed in a room dedicated to his name was re - display case by Points Athabasca. cently filled with art by Aboriginal Other artwork depicting a Aboriginal artists from across Saskatchewan. culture or theme was donated by West - “The decorating of the room and wind Aviation, Athabasca Basin De - the spiritual ceremonies to bless the velopment, Team Drilling, and room were performed in honor of all Cameco. Black Lake Chief and Coun - those that will use the room, and will cil also donated a plaque to be hung at provide comfort and a sense of be - the head of the bed in recognition of longing to the Aboriginal families that Edwin. will stay there,” said Glen Strong, “I’m happy about it that they rec - Community Relations and Training ognized my husband,” said Helen Coordinator for Points Athabasca. Boneleye, Edwin’s widow. “As well it will provide an edu - Ron Hyggen, CEO of ABS, Muskowekwan Chief Reginald Bellerose, Kawacatoose “My late husband did many cation about the culture to all those First Nation Chief Dennis Dustyhorn, and Day Star First Nation Chief Lloyd Buf - things for people of the North.” falo sign an MOU to provide security services at BHP Billiton’s Jansen site. ABS signs security agreement with BHP Billiton

SASKATOON – BHP Billiton has signed an agreement with Athabasca Basin Se - curity (ABS) to provide security services for its Jansen Potash project. ABS has partnered with local First Nations through the Kawacatoose Daystar Muskowekwan (KDM) Business Development Corporation, for the training and employment of band members by the Saskatchewan-based security firm. The MOU signing between ABS and KDM took place on Friday, April 24. “BHP Billiton is pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to ABS and KDM through our current level of activity at the Jansen Project” says Alex Archila, President of Potash, BHP Billiton. “This is in line with our Local Procurement Plan which seeks to make a broader economic contribution that helps to continue building the business capac - ities of local, Saskatchewan, First Nations and Métis businesses.” The contract will supply 40 jobs to the area. KDM will be responsible for se - curity training and ABS will provide pre-employment requirements and jobs across Western Canada for the people who meet them. The First Nation becomes the sole provider of training for the company in the region. “We are very excited about this agreement, as it’s a win-win for everyone,” says Ron Hyggen, CEO of Athabasca Basin Security. “As an aboriginal-owned security company, we take pride in providing a top- tier service to our clients, as well as providing meaningful career opportunities with transferrable skills for aboriginal people. We look forward to working with KDM to provide employment, training and a stellar industrial security service to BHP Bil - liton.” In October 2013, BHP Billiton and Kawacatoose Day Star, and Muskowek - wan First Nations signed an Opportunities Agreement for the Jansen Potash proj - ect. The agreement with BHP Billiton included mutually beneficial opportunities in employment, business, and community development for the three First Nations. “The agreement we signed with BHP Billiton has led to this current partner - ship with Athabasca Basin Security,” says Chief Reg Bellerose of the Muskowek - wan First Nation. “We believe that collaboration through the creation of strategic alliances is the key to successful workforce development for our membership as well as for the col - lective business pursuits of our three First Nations, and this agreement is a good step towards our goal to provide people in our communities with access to educa - tion, training, and employment in a long-term, meaningful career.” 24 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2015 SAS building on dreams, skills of three founders

By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News SASKATOON – SAS Construction is a general con - tracting company that does projects anywhere from carpentry to industrial pipefitting. The company was formed by Royan Stewart, Dwayne Stonechild and Jay Ahenakew, three friends that grew up together in Prince Albert. A conversation as adults turned to the labour short - age in the province and the untapped opportunities there were for the Aboriginal community. That small talk saw them conceptualize the creation of an Aborig - inal construction company that had all Aboriginal em - ployees, from carpenters, to engineers and owners. “Our vision from day one was to have this com - (Left) Jay Ahenakew, Royan Stewart and Dwayne Stonechild are the pany that was all Aborigi - owners of SAS Construction. (Above) Joel Garr is a mentor to many nal workers. We know the up and coming scaffolders. demographics aren’t going “SAS hits “I always hook them up with guys who want to to change and our commu - the PotashCorp teach. Our crew leaders are patient. Back when I started, nity is underutilized as a criteria as sup - we were just told to go get them stuff. But now, they re - labour force,” said Dwayne pliers, not just ally want to teach the younger apprentices what to do,” Stonechild of the company’s because of their said Garr who is a member of the English River First plan to employ and support Aboriginal Nation. First Nation workers. ownership and “We try to get ahead of the challenges like being “We want to leave a mark on the Saskatchewan employment, but because they can do the job well, on late or showing up. It starts with the mentoring and giv - landscape so that First Nation people and their kids can time and safely.” ing them a good teacher. They learn what you teach drive by a landmark building and say that they built it.” To help with retention, SAS runs smaller crews them. Each one of the friends had something important and pairs each new worker up with a mentor. Joel Garr “Lots of guys in our community just need a chance to contribute to the start-up business. Royan Stewart has is one of the SAS supervisors and after 14 years in the to learn and from what I have found, these guys have over 20 years of construction and scaffolding ownership scaffolding trade, this journeyman knows what it takes been above and beyond what a first year worker is sup - experience. Dwayne Stonechild is a practicing lawyer to keep a guy on. posed to be.” and Jay Ahenakew has been consulting on First Nations business for years. Their combined experience and knowledge of industry and the community has proven invaluable. “We all saw the trends in construction with our clients having an Aboriginal strategy and with everyone really struggling to find workers, we knew we had to do something and we were the right group to do it,” said Stewart whose company, Brek Scaffolding is 33 per cent owner of SAS. Besides hitting the community to find workers, they have taken on student trainees from the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology. Most importantly they have also secured contracts with PotashCorp to do scaffolding at the Lanigan and Alan mine sites. “Leanne Bellegarde and the people at PotashCorp have met with us many times and reviewed our work and given us feedback. I have been in construction for 20 years and I have never received feedback like I have from PotashCorp. That speaks to how well de - veloped the relationship is,” said Stewart who added that their crew was 100 per cent Aboriginal on the Al - lan mine site job. As the supply chain in the mining industry diver - sifies, partnerships and companies like SAS Construc - tion catch the eye of Leanne Bellegarde, Director Abo - riginal Strategy for PotashCorp. “The changing demographics of Saskatchewan dictate that we have to start including Aboriginal peo - ple in all aspects of the economy,” said Bellegarde. MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 25 Q & A with Cameco’s Joslin Sanger

The mining industry offers dozens of different ca - porate head office? reer paths and not every one of them requires mov - There definitely was an adjustment as I was used to ing rock or being at the mine site. An important part being in an environment with more people my own of the mining industry is community engagement age, where at this position I am working with people and corporate responsibility. Joslin Sanger is a jun - of all ages. Being one of the younger employees, it ior specialist, Corporate Responsibility at Cameco's was a bit intimidating at times, but I have really been corporate office and it is her job to work with the able to learn from others’ experiences. I think there is communities on behalf of Cameco. Raised in La probably an adjustment period in any position, but I Ronge, Joslin is a member of the Fond du Lac De - believe that learning to adapt to the different work nesuline Nation and a graduate of the Edwards environments will benefit me throughout my career. School of Business at the University of Who would you say are your role models? Saskatchewan. We caught up with her to find out This is a hard question to answer since I cannot iden - what a career in mining is like for her. tify any one specific role model I’ve looked up to throughout my life. There were many people in my What compelled you to apply for this job at life, including friends, family and teachers that made Cameco? me feel confident in pursuing my goals that included During university, I worked as a summer student at getting a post-secondary education. I look up to peo - two of Cameco’s mine sites which I really enjoyed ple who are positive, hardworking and are able to and thought that Cameco was a great company to succeed while remaining true to themselves. Having Joslin Sanger was raised in La Ronge and educated work for. Being a northerner, I was interested in a job these people in my life who I admire has helped me at the University of Saskatchewan. that allowed me to travel throughout the North and to to overcome some of my fears and inspired me to right away but remember that all work experience is work with northern communities. When I saw a job grow as a person. valuable and there is always something to be learned. opening in corporate responsibility, I saw it as an op - Any tips for grads about to enter the workforce? It may not always be easy, but surrounding yourself portunity for me to have a meaningful job that could I would tell new grads to be prepared to work hard with the right people who will motivate and support allow me to be part of positive change. and to be patient. You might not find your dream job you along the way will make it much easier. What is the main role of your job? I assist with Cameco’s community engagement programming and corporate responsibility reporting. A big part of my role is to support Cameco’s engagement initiatives. I work directly with our commu - nity partners and assist with the planning, coordination and facili - tation of on-going engagement ini - tiatives in northern Saskatchewan. I also work directly with our com - munity partners where we provide updates and discuss the company’s northern Saskatchewan opera - tions. I travel a lot in my role, but for the most part, I go north and visit northern communities. My role is more of a generalist so I support the corporate responsibil - ity team whenever I can and do a variety of other tasks at the office, such as compiling and entering data for the corporate responsibil - ity reporting. What is the most rewarding as - pect of your work so far? I enjoy meeting people from the North and being able to visit dif - ferent communities as part of my job. I’ve been home to La Ronge a number of times for work meet - ings and have had the opportunity to visit Fond du Lac, as well as many other communities that I might not have otherwise been able to visit. I feel that the North has a lot to offer and in the future, I would like to be a part of the ini - tiatives that Cameco’s partner - ships with these communities can bring. To me, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to help others. Was there an adjustment period getting used to working in a cor - 26 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2015 Job readiness program helps Sask Aboriginal people enter pipefitting trade

By Fraser Needham Eighteen-year-old Gage Scott of Kinistin Saulteaux mind at ease.” For Eagle Feather News Nation is one of the graduates of the job readiness program . Verbeke says CIMS and the other partners hope to Ten Aboriginal people from Saskatchewan will He says after high school he tried his hand at car - continue offering the job readiness program once a soon embark on careers as pipefitters. pentry but believes he is better suited for pipefitting and year. The group represents the first graduates of a new is willing to see where the job readiness program created by CIMS Limited Part - trade takes him. nership, the Saskatchewan Piping Industry Joint Train - Scott says he thinks ing Board, Gabriel Dumont Institute, the Saskatoon a lot of young Aboriginal Tribal Council and Saskatchewan Building Trades. people are likely unaware As part of the program, they spent about eight of the opportunities a trade weeks in the classroom and are guaranteed jobs in the like pipefitting can offer industry immediately afterwards. and just need a bit of help The graduates will then need to spend about three to aid them in getting a to four years on the job upgrading their skills and edu - foot in the door such as the cation before they become fully certified. program offers. Todd Verbeke, general manager at CIMS, says “They don’t really the pipefitting trade offers a variety of well paying jobs have the proper guidance in the oil and gas, pulp and paper and coal, uranium and to take them there,” he potash mining industries. says. “Me, I had my par - Once fully certified, unionized pipefitters can earn ents and they guided me as much as $45 per hour. to go where I wanted but However, there continues to be a skill shortage in they let me choose what I the industry and Verbeke says the partners figured wanted and I really thank rather than depend on temporary foreign workers to fill them for that. Finding this the gap, why not tap into the wealth of Aboriginal tal - pipefitting really puts my ent within the province.

The first graduating class of the pipefitters job readiness program gets together for a photo.

“We’ve all heard about foreign worker programs and this and that,” he says. “Yet, we have a labour pool right here in our province that’s willing, able and needs an opportunity for these positions. And they’re not lower level positions, they’re career opportunities.” The Saskatoon Tribal Council has taken an active role in the job readiness program by recruiting and screening a number of candidates. STC Chief Felix Thomas says he has had a num - ber of conversations with both industry and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour as to why Aborig - inal people have been unable to break into well paying skilled trades jobs. He says the program enables Indigenous people a chance to get a foot in the door in the unionized build - ing trades. “One of the big barriers is that a lot of these kids don’t have a way into the different jobs as a lot of our people aren’t as established in some of the union halls,” he says. “So, they can’t mentor, they can’t provide oppor - tunities for their kids, or their cousins or their nieces and nephews.” Thomas adds one of the best things about the job readiness program is that it offers immediate employ - ment after a short period of training. “It gives them hope in the future but it also gives them hope to complete. A lot of people need that future door to be opened for them and this just gives them that motivation.” MAY 2015 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week 27

Whitecap Industrial Services partners exhibiting at the Mining Supply Chain Forum held in Saskatoon. L-R Left to right: Jonathan Stringer - Black Diamond, Cory Rosenau - Black Diamond, Boyd Adamack - NCSG, Jackie Pilon - Whitecap Industrial Services, Gren Ritter - NCSG,Christian Boyle - Whitecap Industrial Services, Sandra Sutter - PTW Energy, Dar - rell Balkwill - Whitecap Industrial Services. Whitecap group of companies offers wide range of complementary services for resource industry partners

By John Lagimodiere Of Eagle Feather News SASKATOON – Saskatchewan is a busy place these days. The world needs the resources found both above and below its fertile soil. It takes a lot of work to produce those resources and there is great oppor - tunity for those service providers who can help facilitate that work as safely, sus - tainably, and efficiently as possible. Ultimately every service provider is as good as the tools, talent, and ideas that they possess and partnerships are the catalyst that allow them to do more with the resources they have. That’s the idea behind Whitecap Industrial Serv - ices, a group of companies working together in partnership to become greater than the sum of their parts. Whitecap Industrial Services is a partnership between the Whitecap De - velopment Corporation and six companies who provide a broad range of serv - ices to the resource industry. The Whitecap Development Corporation, the in - vestment arm of Whitecap Dakota First Nation has developed a reputation for creating successful partnerships. That reputation brought opportunities to expand into the resource sector. “Our partners were looking to connect with aboriginal businesses in Saskatchewan, and we were looking for ways to access the resource sector,” says Darrell Balkwill CEO of Whitecap Development Corporation. “We felt it would strengthen our offering if we could present those part - nerships as a team of complementary services rather than a series of one-offs. “The idea behind these partnerships is that we work together to provide op - portunities for each other, as majority owners we are doing our part by actively marketing the services Whitecap Industrial Services provides and developing strategies to connect Whitecap members, and all First Nations people with train - ing and employment opportunities,” explains Balkwill. The partnership features the services of some the largest and most respected service providers in the resource industry. Current partners are Whitecap Haztech Industrial Services, Whitecap NCSG Crane and Heavy Haul Partner - ship, Whitecap Allnorth Engineering Partnership, Whitecap Black Diamond Partnership, Whitecap PTW Energy Partnership, and Whitecap RCS Energy Partnership. The services they provide include engineering, environmental services, crane operation, specialized hauling, work-camp construction, project management, electrical and control system installation, and safety/health care/se - curity services. Each partner shares core values regarding safety and service. “All of our partners have been recognized in their respective industries for their commitment to safety, management, and customer service,” said Balkwill. “These are some of the top service providers in Canada”. Whitecap Industrial Services is committed to accessing and developing the First Nations labour force in Whitecap and Saskatchewan. “Industry places great value on providing training and employment op - portunities for First Nations people and one of the major focuses of this part - nership is to ensure that Whitecap members will get access to those opportuni - ties,” said Chief Darcy Bear, President of the Whitecap Development Corporation. The partnerships are also looking to bring training and employment op - portunities to other Saskatchewan First Nations. “Ultimately it comes down to developing a team of partners that share our values,” adds Bear. “There is real strength in that.” 28 Eagle Feather News - Mining Week MAY 2015